Bedikas Chametz – the Procedure

These halachos of Bedikas Chametz, Searching for Chametz, are based on the rulings of the Mishna Berura, reflecting Ashkenazi practice.

The Bracha on Bedikas Chametz

Prior to bedikas chametz, one says the bracha ‘asher kideshanu…al biur chametz’.. We do not say ‘al bedikas chametz’ as the bedikah is only the start of the process to remove the chametz; instead we reference the destroying of the Chametz which is the final aim of the bedikah (SA 432:1, MB 3).
If one forgot: If one forgot to say the bracha at the start of the bedikah, one can still say it so long as one has not yet finished. If one forgets to say it entirely at the time of bedikas chametz, there is a dispute whether it can be said prior to the burning of the chametz the next day. Those who wish to say it then have those on whom to rely; according to the opposing view one should say the bracha without ‘shem umalchus’ ie one would say ‘Baruch atah’ followed immediately by ‘asher kideshanu….’ (SA 432:1, MB4)
Speaking after the bracha: One must not speak between the bracha and commencing bedikas chametz. If one did speak and spoke about matters unrelated to the bedikah, one must re-make the bracha.
Once one has started the bedikah, one should preferably not talk about unrelated matters until one has completed it, to ensure one is fully focused. However, one may speak about matters which directly relate to the bedikah and If one did speak about unrelated matters, one does not re-make the bracha. (SA 432:1, MB5, 6)

One bracha for multiple locations: If one is going to perform bedikas chametz in multiple locations, one immediately after the other, such as at home and in their workplace, only one bracha should be made (ie at the start of the bedikah at the first location), as several opinions rule that travelling between locations is not a ‘hefsek’, interruption, to the initial bracha (SA 432:2, MB 7, PT 6).

Multiple people helping with the bedikah: If multiple people are helping perform bedikas chametz in the house, they should all gather together to hear the bracha from the ba’al habayis and answer amen before commencing the search. Ideally, someone who did not hear the bracha should not help to perform the bedikah. However where it is difficult to complete the bedikah without additional help, one may ask others who weren’t present for the bracha to help, but they should not make a bracha (SA 431:2, MB 9, 11).
Ideally the ba’al habayis should directly participate in the bedikas chametz on their home and not just rely on other family members (or indeed non family members) to perform the whole bedikah, as it is a greater mitzva to participate in a mitzvah oneself. Where this isn’t possible and others are performing the entire bedikah, they should recite the bracha rather than the be’al habayis, given he isn’t participating (MB 431:8, 10).

Ten pieces of bread: The custom is to place ten pieces of bread around the home before bedikas chametz, to ensure that some chametz is found in the search. Nonetheless, if one did not place the ten pieces and did not find any other chametz as part of the search, we do not treat the bracha as being in vain (levatala), as the mitzva is to search for and destroy chametz if one finds it, but if one finds nothing one has still done the mitzva (R 432:2, MB 13).
One should use hard bread that one does not expect to crumble and should not put it in a place where it will be accessible to young children or rodents who may move it elsewhere, crumble it etc. Care must also be taken to ensure none of the pieces get lost (MB 432:12, 13) (hence from a practical perspective it is advisable to make a list of where one put them).

Bedikas Chametz is done by candlelight.
Single Candle: This involves using a single candle, not multiple candles held together or a multi-wick candle as the flame will be larger and one will not be willing to use these in narrow places lest they cause a fire, meaning one will not do the bedikah properly. (SA 433:2, MB 8, 12)
Material: The candle should be made of wax, not other substances that drip easily such as oil candles or candles from animal fat (SA 433:2).
Torch: Contemporary poskim debate whether one may use a torch/flashlight (Dirshu 431:6, PT 431:2).

See our specific post on the Halachos of Where to Search here

Immediately following bedikas chametz, we perform the first ‘bittul’ of the chametz by saying the text of ‘kol chamira…’ found in the siddur, in order to render the chametz ownerless and insignificant. This is done lest one missed any chametz as part of the bedikah.
Understanding: It is important to understand what one is saying, as if one does not, the Chametz will not become ownerless. Therefore, those who do not understand the Aramaic text in the siddur should instead/additionally read the translation. If one only said the Aramaic and understood the general idea that its intent is to render the Chametz ownerless, after the fact it is a valid bittul, but if one did not understand it at all, the bittul is invalid and must be repeated in a language one understands.
Chametz Covered: At night, the ‘kol chamira’ is phrased only to cover chametz that one has not seen, as one may be leaving chametz to eat the following morning. Furthermore, one wishes to retain ownership over the chametz that one will burn the following morning, in order to fulfil this mitzvah. (SA 434:2, MB 6,7,9)

After bedikas chametz, if one has chametz that one wishes to keep and eat or burn the following morning one must take great care to ensure that it is kept protected and out of reach, in a manner that children or rodents cannot access it and move or spread it elsewhere.
When one has stored it in this protected manner, even if it goes missing one need not perform bedikas chametz again as we can assume an adult took it; however, if chametz was kept without such precautions and goes missing, one must perform bedikas chametz again (without a bracha) in order to ensure it does not remain somewhere in the house. (SA 434:1, MB 2-4)